Bean and Macaroni Soup

Bean and Macaroni Soup

2 cans (16 oz each) great northern beans
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 C onion, coarsely chopped
2 C carrots, sliced
1 C celery, coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 C tomatoes, fresh, peeled, cut up
(or 1 1/2 lb canned, whole, cut up)*
1 tsp dried sage
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried oregano
to taste black pepper, freshly ground
1 bay leaf, crumbled
4 C elbow macaroni, cooked

 

*If using canned tomatoes, sodium content will be higher. Try no salt added canned tomatoes to keep sodium lower.

 Directions:

1. Drain beans and reserve liquid. Rinse beans.
2. Heat oil in 6-quart kettle. Add mushrooms, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes.
3. Add tomatoes, sage, thyme, oregano, pepper, and bay leaf. Cover and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes.
4. Cook macaroni according to directions on package, using unsalted water. Drain when cooked. Do not overcook.
5. Combine reserved bean liquid with water to make 4 cups.
6. Add liquid, beans, and cooked macaroni to vegetable mixture.
7. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer until soup is thoroughly heated. Stir occasionally.

Cinnamon Apple Sponge Cake

Cinnamon Apple Sponge Cake

Yield: 10 servings

Apple Filling
ӫӫ4 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
ӫӫ4 tablespoons unsalted butter
ӫӫ¼ cup water
ӫӫ1/₃ cup granulated sugar

2009 Inaugural Luncheon Recipes 7
ӫӫ1/₃ cup apple sauce
ӫӫ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
ӫӫ¼ teaspoon salt
ӫӫGrated zest from 1 lemon
ӫӫ1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bread Crust

ӫӫ14 tablespoons unsalted butter, melt 10 of tablespoons
ӫӫ2 tablespoons granulated sugar
ӫӫ34 slices brioche bread (or white bread)

Equipment

ӫӫ10 Ceramic baking ramekins or metal molds (3” diameter)

Sauce

ӫӫ2 cups caramel sauce(store bought)
ӫӫ2 cups granny smith apples, peeled, cored, diced small
ӫӫPinch sugar
ӫӫPinch cinnamon
ӫӫ1 tablespoon butter

Ice Cream

ӫӫ1 quart vanilla ice cream

Preparation
Filling
1. Melt butter in 6-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Add apples and caramelize, add water, cook, stirring occasionally for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are completely soft. Remove cover and add sugar, nutmeg and salt. Increase heat to medium-high and continue to cook, stirring apples frequently, until liquid has completely evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest, apple sauce and vanilla. Set aside to cool while making crust. The filling can be made one day ahead 

Making crust and assembly 

1. Position oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Grease 8 ceramic dishes with 1tablespoon butter. Sprinkle sugar in dish and tilt to coat bottom and sides. Tap out excess sugar and set aside.
2. Using a bread knife, remove crusts from bread. Center the bottom of mold over one of the bread squares. Cut around mold to form circle to use as the top. Make a total of 20 of these round pieces. Ten will be for the bottom and 10 will be used for the top. Dip each one in melted butter and place at the bottom of mold.
3. Cut each of the 15 remaining slices of bread into four rectangular pieces. Dip one side of each strip in the melted butter and arrange strips, upright, around the inside of molds, buttered-sides against mold and overlapping by about 1/2” to completely line mold. Use 6 rectangles to line the mold.
4. Spoon the apple filling into bread-lined molds, mounding it slightly in center.
5. Take the remaining ten rounds of bread and dip pieces of bread into the melted butter and place on top of filling, buttered-sides up. Press down lightly.
6. Bake for 30 minutes, then cover top loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until top is deep golden brown and side slices are golden brown (slide a thin-bladed knife between bread and pan to check). Remove from oven, uncover, and let rest for 15 minutes on wire rack. Run thin-bladed knife around edges of molds to be able to flip the mold out onto serving plates.
7. For the apple cinnamon caramel sauce, sauté 1 cup of peeled and diced Granny Smith apples in butter, add a pinch of sugar and cinnamon. Allow to cook until apples are lightly browned and all sugars have dissolved. Remove from heat and add 2 cups caramel sauce to the apples and stir to coat apples.

To Assemble
Pour caramel apple sauce over warmed apple cakes and serve with your favorite vanilla ice cream.

Winter Vegetables

Winter Vegetables

Yield: 10 servings

ӫ2 bunches Asparagus, green, bottom 1/3 of stem removed
ӫӫ2 lbs. Carrots, peeled, cut oblong or large dice
ӫӫ1 lb. Baby Brussel Sprouts, fresh,cleaned or frozen can be used
ӫӫ1 lb. Wax Beans, ends snipped
ӫӫ2 oz Butter
ӫӫ1 each Zest from orange
ӫӫ4 oz. Olive oil

ӫӫSalt and Pepper to taste.

 

Directions
Asparagus: preheat grill or large heavy bottom sauté pan. Rub 2 oz of olive oil on asparagus and season with pinch of salt and pepper. Lay flat on grill or sauté pan until lightly browned. Using long fork or tongs, rotate the asparagus to brown other sides. Usually 2 or 3 minutes per side. The asparagus is done when you can use a fork to cut through. Do not overcook, this will cause asparagus to become stringy. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Carrots: bring 3 qt salted water to a boil, add carrots to water and cook until fork tender, meaning a fork will easily pass through the carrot. Drain the water from the pot and toss 1 oz butter and zest of orange and mix until carrots are coated. Season with pinch of salt and enjoy. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Brussel Sprouts: For Fresh: Bring 3 qt salted water to a boil, cut into the stem of the sprout with a pairing knife to create an X on the bottom, this will allow the stem to cook more evenly. Place sprout in boiling water and allow to cook until bottom of sprout is tender and easily cut with a knife. Preheat a heavy bottom sauté while the sprouts are cooking. Remove sprouts from water and allow all water to drain completely. Add 2 oz oil to sauté pan and add the sprouts, season with salt and pepper while tossing the sprouts around to evenly brown in the pan. If sprouts are too big, you can cut them in half, keep warm until ready to serve.

For Frozen: Bring 3 qt salted water to a boil and drop frozen brussel sprouts into water, these are precooked so you are only thawing them out. Remove from water and sauté as above.

Yellow Wax beans: bring 3 qt salted water to boil, add snipped wax beans to water and allow to cook until fork tender or to your liking of doneness. Remove from water and toss with 1 oz butter and season with salt and pepper.

Molasses Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Molasses Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Yield: 2 quarts

ӫӫ3 large sweet potatoes, about 3 pounds
ӫӫ2 tablespoons unsalted butter
ӫӫ1 teaspoon kosher salt
ӫӫ¼ cup orange juice
ӫӫ½ tablespoon of brown sugar
ӫӫ1 tablespoon of molasses
ӫӫ1 teaspoon of ground cumin
ӫӫ2 tablespoons maple syrup

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and roast until easily pierced with a fork, about 1 hour.
3. Peel the skin off of the sweet potatoes while still hot.By hand or mixer, smash potatoes until all large chunks are gone. Combine the potatoes, butter, salt, orange juice, brown sugar, ground cumin, molasses and maple syrup in a large bowl. Continue to mix all together until all lumps are gone. Adjust any of the seasonings to your specific tastes. Can be made the day before.

Herb Roasted Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing

Herb Roasted Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing

Yield: 10 portions

ӫӫ10 Pheasant breast, boneless, remove tenders and reserve for stuffing, cut small pocket in side of breast for stuffing
ӫӫ½ cup Olive oil with chopped rosemary, thyme and sage
ӫӫ1 lb. Wild rice, long grain
ӫӫ2 quarts Chicken stock or canned chicken broth
ӫӫ2 Carrots, diced
ӫӫ½ Onion, diced
ӫӫ½ cup Dried apricot, small diced
ӫӫ1 Tablespoon Salt and pepper mix
ӫӫ2 Tablespoons Garlic, roasted

Directions
1. Boil the rice with the chicken stock, cook until soft and most of the liquid is gone.
2. Add the onion, carrot, garlic and apricot. Cook until the vegetables are soft and all liquid has been absorbed. Refrigerate rice mixture until cold.
3. In a food processor, puree pheasant tenders to a paste consistency to use as a binder for rice mix.
4. When rice is cool, add the pheasant puree to the rice until well mixed. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and return to refrigerator until ready to stuff.
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
6. Make 10 small football shaped patties of the rice mix, stuff inside the pheasant, being careful not to overstuff the pheasant. Rub herb/oil mixture on top and bottom of the pheasant, season with salt and pepper. Place the pheasant on a heavy gauge roasting pan and then in a preheated oven for approximately 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and cover with lid or foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Serve over sauté of spinach.
*Pheasant can be substituted with chicken.

Duck Breast with Cherry Chutney

Duck Breast with Cherry Chutney

 Yield: 10 servings

ӫӫ 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
ӫӫ ½ cup chopped onion (1 small)
ӫӫ 3 garlic cloves, crushed
ӫӫ 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
ӫӫ ½ teaspoon black pepper
ӫӫ ½ teaspoon ground cumin
ӫӫ Scant ¼ teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
ӫӫ ¾ teaspoon salt
ӫӫ ½ cup coarsely chopped red bell pepper (½ medium)

ӫӫ1 plum tomato, coarsely chopped
ӫӫ¼ cup dry red wine
ӫӫ1 ½ to 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
ӫӫ2 tablespoons sugar
ӫӫ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
ӫӫ1 can (3 cups) Bing cherries, quartered *Oregon brand
ӫӫ½ cup Golden Raisins
ӫӫ10 (6 oz.) boneless duck breasts with skin
ӫӫ2 tablespoons water
ӫӫ1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon or chives

 

Method for chutney and glaze

1. Heat oil in a 2 to 3 quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onion, garlic, and shallot, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 7 minutes. Add tomato paste, black pepper, cumin, hot pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium and add bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in wine, vinegar (to taste), and sugar and simmer approx 5 minutes. Stir in mustard, 1 1/2 cups cherries, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer 1 minute. Allow to cool slightly and reserve all but ¼ cup of the mix to the side. Place1/4 cup mix in a blender and puree until very smooth, about 1 minute (use caution when blending hot liquids). Reserve for glazing duck. To finish the chutney, add the remaining 1 ½ cups of cherries, tarragon, chives and all the golden raisins. Can be prepared one day ahead.
2. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F. Score duck skin in a crosshatch pattern with a small sharp knife and season duck all over with salt and pepper.
3. Heat water in an ovenproof 12-inch heavy skillet over low heat until hot, then add duck, skin side down. Cook duck, uncovered, over low heat, without turning, until most of fat is rendered(melted) and skin is golden brown, about 25 minutes.
4. Transfer duck to a plate and discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet. Brush duck all over with cherry glaze and return to skillet, skin side up.
5. Roast duck in oven until thermometer registers 135°F, about 8 minutes for medium-rare. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
6. Holding a sharp knife at a 45-degree angle, cut duck into slices. Serve with cherry chutney and molasses whipped sweet potato.

Seafood Stew

Seafood Stew

ӫӫ 6 (1 Lb) Maine lobsters
ӫӫ 20 medium size Sea scallops
ӫӫ 36 Large shrimp, peel, cleaned and tail removed, aprox. 2 lbs.
ӫӫ 10 (1 oz) pieces of black cod
ӫӫ ½ cup small dice carrots
ӫӫ ½ cup small dice celery
ӫӫ ½ cup small dice leek
ӫӫ ½ cup small dice Idaho potato
ӫӫ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
ӫӫ 1 teaspoon ground white pepper or black pepper
ӫӫ ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
ӫӫ 1 quart heavy cream
ӫӫ 1 cup dry vermouth (can be made without)
ӫӫ 10 (5 inch) puff pastry rounds

 

Equipment
ӫӫ 10 (3 ½ inch) terrines/ramekins or serving dish of your choice

Directions
1. Bring 1 gallon of water to a boil; poach lobsters, then shrimp, then black cod and last scallops. After seafood is cooked, remove from water; reserve water and bring to boil.
2. Cook all vegetables in liquid that was used for the seafood, remove vegetables when tender. Allow the liquid to continue to boil until only 1qt of liquid remains. This will be the base for the sauce.
3. Bring seafood liquid back to a boil and add the vermouth and heavy cream and reduce by half, season with salt, white pepper and nutmeg to taste. You have reached your desired thickness when the sauce will cover the back of a wooden spoon. Set aside to cool.
4. Cut Maine lobster, shrimp and scallops into bite size pieces.
5. Pre-heat oven at 400 degrees.
6. Fold seafood and vegetables into cool sauce, being careful not to mix too much as this will break up the seafood. Scoop mixture into terrines or oven proof baking dish of your choice.
7. Cover terrines with puff pastry rounds, brush them with egg wash and bake them until golden brown about 8-10 minutes, allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. You can cook this 2-3 hours ahead of time and keep warm at 150 F degrees.
*All seafood can be substituted with other favorite options of your choice and availability.

Almond Biscuits[Chinese Recipe]

Almond Biscuits

2 1/2 cups all−purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp almond essence
blanched almonds for decoration
beaten egg for glazing

1. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Cream the margarine (or butter) and sugar together until light, white and fluffy. Beat in the egg and almond essence. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients to make a stiff
dough.
2. Form the mixture into balls about 1 − 1.5 inch diameter and place these on a greased baking tray. Place half an almond (split lengthways) on each ball and press to flatten slightly. Brush with beaten egg.
3. Bake in a moderate oven (350 deg F / 180 deg C) for 20 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack. This quantity makes about 45 biscuits.

Bean Sprout Salad[Chinese Recipe]

Bean Sprout Salad

2 tablespoon Sesame seeds
1 pound Fresh bean sprouts thoroughly washed and drained
3 Garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 md Scallions −− trimmed & minced
1 − 1" cube ginger, peeled and minced
2 tablespoon Oriental sesame oil
1/3 cup Soy sauce
2 tablespoon Cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Mirin (sweet rice wine)
2 teaspoon Light brown sugar
1 teaspoon Spicy sesame oil

PREHEAT OVEN TO 300F. Toast the sesame seeds by spreading them over the bottom of a pie tin. Roast for 12−to−16 minutes, stirring often, until they are golden. The seeds can be toasted in advance and stored
in an airtight container.

Place the bean sprouts in a large heatproof bowl and set it aside. In a medium−size skillet set over moderately low heat, stir−fry the garlic, scallions and ginger in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, until they are limp. Add all the remaining ingredients, increase the heat to moderate, then boil the mixture, uncovered, for 1 minute to slightly reduce the liquid. Pour the boiling dressing over the bean sprouts, toss well, then cover the bowl and chill the salad for several hours. Toss again before serving.

Cantonese Roast Duck[Chinese Recipe]

Cantonese Roast Duck

1 duck, about 5 pounds, fresh or frozen
1 tablespoon salt
1 scallion
3 slices fresh ginger

Glaze:
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Few sprigs fresh cilantro, for garnish

1. Thaw the duck, if frozen. Remove any excess fat, and rinse and pat dry with paper towels. Rub the entire surface of the duck, inside and out, with the salt. Cover and refrigerate for several hours, or, overnight.
2. Put the scallion in the cavity and lay the slices of ginger on top of the duck. Add at least 2 inches of water to a large flameproof roasting pan with a lid and put the pan on the stove. Place a large rack in the roasting pan and bring the water to a boil. Choose an oval casserole large enough to hold the duck and small enough to fit into the roasting pan. Place the duck in the casserole and then put the casserole on the rack. Cover and steam for 1 hour, checking the water level from time to time and adding more boiling water if necessary. Save the duck broth to use in soups or stir fry dishes. When done, remove the duck from the casserole and place it on a rack to dry.

3. Combine the ingredients for the glaze in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. With a pastry brush, paint the hot glaze over the surface of the duck. Allow duck to dry for 1 hour.

4. Preheat the oven to 375F. Roast the duck, breast side down, for 20 minutes. Turn over and continue to roast for 40 more minutes.

5. Transfer duck to a chopping board and allow to cool slightly. Using a cleaver, disjoint and cut the duck through the bone into bite size pieces. Arrange the pieces on a serving platter, garnish with cilantro and serve.

Fortune Cookies[Chinese Recipe]

Fortune Cookies

8 oz. All−purpose flour
2 Tbl. Cornstarch
4 oz. Sugar
1/2 teas. Salt
4 oz. Vegetable oil
4 oz. Egg whites
1 Tbl. Water
2 teas. Vanilla extract.

1. In a deep bowl, mix the following ingredients: 8 oz. Flour, 2 tablespoons corn starch, 4 oz sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt, blend in 4 oz. oil, 4 oz. Egg whites, 1 tablespoon water and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and beat until smooth consistency.
2. Write your own "Fortune" on a piece of paper 2 1/2" by 1/2". Prepared oven to 300F.
3. Scoop a tablespoon of cookie batter and spread evenly into a 4" circle on a well greased baking sheet.
4. Bake cookie for about 14 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Remove one cookie at a time from the oven.
5. You have about 15 seconds working time before the cookie hardens. Place the "Fortune" in the middle of the cookie.
6. Shape the cookie by folding it in half and grasp both ends. Place the finished cookie in a muffin pan with the ends down to hold its unique shape.

Garlic Chicken[Chinese Recipe]

Garlic Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 lb.)
1 egg white
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1 Tablespoon dry white wine or sherry
4 green onions
1 teaspoon minced gingerroot
3 teaspoons minced fresh garlic (about 6 medium cloves)
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
Hot cooked rice

SAUCE
1 teaspoon crushed chili paste (sambal oelek) or more to taste
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 Tablespoon water
2 Tablespoons dry white wine or sherry
2 Tablespoons soy sauce

Place chicken breasts in freezer for 1 to 2 hours or until very firm but not frozen solid. Slice crosswise into thin shreds. In small bowl, lightly beat egg white, then mix in 1 TBS cornstach and 1 TBS wine, stirring until cornstarch is dissolved. Add chicken and mix well to coat all pieces. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Meanwhile, slice green onions on the diagonal into very thin slices. Mince gingerroot and garlic. Combine Sauce ingredients, mixing well. Heat wok or frying pan, add oil, and stir−fry chicken until no longer pink. Remove chicken with a slotted spoon. Add onions, ginger and garlic to wok and stir−fry about 30 seconds, until ginger and garlic are fragrant but not brown. Return chicken to wok, restir sauce ingredients and add to wok. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is well combined, hot and bubbly and thickens slightly. Turn off heat and splash with about 1 tsp of dark sesame oil. Serve over rice.

Pork with Broccoli in Oyster Sauce[Chinese Recipe]

Pork with Broccoli in Oyster Sauce

1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon MSG (optional)
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 cups sliced lean pork (about 1 pound)
1 bunch (about 2 pounds) fresh brocolli, sliced
2 slices ginger, shredded
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water

Mix together first five ingredients and set aside. Heat wok or pan until hot and dry. Add the oil, then the salt.
Turn heat to medium. Add the ginger and the garlic and fry until golden brown. Turn heat to high. Add the pork and fry until outside is lightly browned. Add the broccoli and stir−fry for 3 minutes. Add the water, cover, and cook for 4 minutes. Pour in reserved sauce mixture; stir while cooking until gravy thickens. Turn heat down to low, cover, and cook for 2 minutes more. Place in covered serving dish until ready to serve.

Orange Beef[Chinese Recipe]

Orange Beef

1/2 Lb. Top round steak
2 Tb Sherry
2 Tb Cornstarch
2 Egg whites
6 Tb Peanut oil

SAUCE:
1 1/2 cups Beef stock
2 Tb Light soy sauce
1 Ts Sugar
1 1/2 Tb Cornstarch
1 Ts Red wine vinegar

5 Dried red chile peppers, broken into pieces
8 Thin slices of orange rind (orange part only) or more
Fresh ground black pepper to taste

Whisk together the sherry, cornstarch, and egg whites until the mixture is foamy. Add the beef and toss to coat the pieces well. Set aside. Cut meat into 2x2−inch pieces. Heat 4 tbs. Peanut oil in wok. Fry quickly, just until crispy and browned, remove to wok rack to drain. Add remaining 2 tbs. Peanut oil to wok. Add orange rind and red peppers to hot oil in wok. Stir−fry until orange rind begins to darken and aroma from oil becomes pleasant. Add remaining ingredients and stir until bubbly (add more beef stock if too thick). Add fried beef and toss to coat with sauce. Serve at once with steamed white rice.

Sesame Chicken[Chinese Recipe]

Sesame Chicken

1 pound boneless chicken (or pork or steak)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 ounces small mushrooms, quartered
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips
4 scallions, chopped diagonally
boiled rice, to serve

Marinade:
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
few drops of Tabasco sauce
1−inch piece fresh ginger, grated
1 garlic clove, crushed

1. Trim the meat and cut into thin strips about 1/2 x 2 inch.
2. Make the marinade. In a bowl, blend the cornstarch with the rice wine or dry sherry, then stir in the lemon juice, soy sauce, Tabasco sauce, ginger and garlic. Stir in the strips, cover and leave in a cool place for 3−4 hours.
3. Place the sesame seeds in a wok or large frying pan and dry−fry over moderate heat, shaking the pan, until the seeds are golden. Set aside.
4. Heat the sesame and vegetable oils in the wok or frying pan. Drain the meat, reserving the marinade, and stir− fry a few pieces at a time until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon.
5. Add the mushrooms and green pepper and stir−fry for 2−3 minutes. Add the scallions and 1 minute more.
6. Return the meat to the wok or frying pan, together with the reserved marinade, and stir over a moderate heat for a further 2 minutes, or until the ingredients are evenly coated with glaze. Sprinkle the sesame seeds
on top and serve immediately with boiled rice.

Mandarin Pancakes[Chinese Recipe]

Mandarin Pancakes

2 cups flour
3/4 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons sesame oil

1. Place flour in a bowl. Add boiling water, stirring with chopsticks or a fork until dough is evenly moistened. On a lightly floured board, knead dough until smooth and satiny, about 5 minutes. Cover and let rest for 30
minutes.
2. On a lightly floured board, roll dough into a cylinder; cut into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten slightly into a pancake. Brush top of each pancake with a light coating of sesame oil.
3. Place 1 pancake on top of a second pancake, oiled sides together. With a rolling pin, roll to make a circle 6 inches in diameter. Stack and roll remaining pairs of pancakes the same way. Cover with a damp cloth to
prevent drying.

Cooking:
1. Place a nonstick frying pan over lm heat until hot. Add 1 pair of pancakes and cook, turning once, until lightly browned and bubbles appear on the surface, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from pan and separate into 2 pancakes while still hot. Stack cooked pancakes on a plate while cooking remaining pairs of pancakes.
2. Serve pancakes hot. If making ahead, reheat pancakes in a microwave oven or wrap in a clean dish towel and steam in a bamboo steamer for 5 minutes.

Empress Chicken Wings[Chinese Recipe]

Empress Chicken Wings

1 1/2 pounds Chicken Wings
3 tablespoons Soy Sauce
1 tablespoon Dry Sherry
1 tablespoon Minced Fresh Ginger Root
1 Clove Garlic, Minced
2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
1/3 cup Cornstarch
2/3 cup Water
2 Green Onions And Tops, Cut Into Thin Slices
1 teaspoon Slivered Fresh Ginger Root

Disjoint the chicken wings; discard tips (or save for stock). Combine soy sauce, sherry, minced ginger and garlic in a large bowl; stir in chicken. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Remove chicken;
reserve marinade. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Lightly coat chicken pieces with cornstarch; add to skillet and brown slowly on all sides. Remove chicken; drain off fat. Stir water and reserved marinade into same skillet. Add chicken; sprinkle green onions and slivered ginger evenly over chicken. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes, or until chicken is tender.

Fried Won Tons[Chinese Recipe]

Fried Won Tons

 1 lb. Won ton skins
1/2 lb. Fresh ground pork
1/2 lb. Fresh prawns
4 Dried mushrooms, soaked for 2 hours
8 Water chestnuts, finely chopped
2 Stalks green onions, finely chopped
2 small Eggs, beaten
1/4 ts Pepper
1 1/2 ts Salt

Yield: About 60 to 70.

Shell and devein prawns. Mince fine. Stem mushrooms and mince caps. Mix with prawns, pork, water chestnuts, green onions, half of the beaten eggs and all of the seasonings. 

WRAPPING:
Place won ton squares on working surface so corners face up, down, left and right. Place 1 teaspoon filling in the center of each skin. Dip a little of the beaten egg onto the bottom corner, bring top corner to meet bottom corner. Press to seal. Moisten left corner and bring right corner to meet it. Press to seal. This should give you a little bundle that looks kind of like a nurses hat. 

FRYING:
Heat 4 cups oil in wok. Fry wrapped won ton until golden (about 2 minutes). Turn over once. Drain and serve hot.

Lo Mein[Chinese Recipe]

Lo Mein

4 cups cooked Chinese noodles (or very thin spaghetti)
rinsed and drained
12 oz. diced cooked meat (beef, chicken, pork ... any)
1 package frozen French−style green beans, thawed
2 cups fresh bean sprouts
3 scallions, chopped
1 slice ginger, shredded
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teas. MSG (Accent)
1 teas. sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 teas. sesame oil
2 Tbls. sherry

Mix together MSG, sugar, and soy sauce. Set aside. Heat wok or pan hot and dry. Add just 3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil and all the sesame oil. Put in ginger and garlic to brown first, then all the other vegetables. Stir and cook for one minute over high heat. Add the sherry. Cover and cook one minute longer. Turn off heat. Remove vegetables, and drain; discard these juices. Set drained vegetables aside. Heat wok or pan dry again. Put in remainder of oil. Turn heat to medium. Add cooked noodles and stir constantly to heat through and to coat the noodles with oil for a couple minutes. Add your choice of meat and reserved vegetables; mix thoroughly. Add reserved soy sauce mixture and stir until noodles become one even color. Serve.

Kung Pao Chicken[Chinese Recipe]

Kung Pao Chicken

2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken

Sauce:

1/4 cup Chinese black vinegar or balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup chicken broth
3 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons cooking oil
8 small dried red chilies
4 teaspoons minced garlic
2 stalks celery, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1−inch squares
1 can (8 oz.) sliced bamboo shoots, drained
2 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
1/3 cup roasted peanuts

1. Combine marinade ingredients in a bowl. Cut chicken into 1−inch pieces. Place chicken in marinade and stir to coat. Let stand for 10 minutes.
2. Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl.
3. Place a wok over high heat until hot. Add 2 tablespoons oil, swirling to coat sides. Add chilies and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Add chicken and stir−fry for 2 minutes. Remove chicken and
chilies from wok.
4. Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil to wok, swirling to coat sides. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Add celery, bell pepper, and bamboo shoots; stir−fry for 1 1/2 minutes.
5. Return chicken and chilies to wok; stir−fry for 1 minute. Add sauce and bring to a boil. Add cornstarch solution and cook, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens. Add peanuts and stir to coat.